Roberta Flack’s life celebrated in public memorial

A public memorial service was held Monday, Mar. 10, which celebrated the life and legacy of the Grammy-winning singer and pianist Roberta Flack.

Flack, an iconic singer whose intimate vocals made her one of the top recording artists of the 1970s and a revered performer long after, died last month at age 88.

Details: Roberta Flack’s memorial

The memorial at New York’s Abyssinian Baptist Church included music and heartfelt performances by Stevie Wonder and a surprise one by Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean of The Fugees.

Performances at Roberta Flack’s memorial

Flack is best-known for songs “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Killing Me Softly With His Song.” Both songs were effortlessly performed by Hill at the celebration of life ceremony. Reverend Al Sharpton gave the eulogy.

Flack “put a soundtrack to black dignity”, Sharpton said.

Wonder performed his song “If It’s Magic”, then sat at the piano to sing with the harpist a song he wrote for Flack, “I Can See the Sun in Late December”.

“The great thing about not having the ability to see with your eyes is the great opportunity of being able to even better see with your heart. And so I knew how beautiful Roberta was, not seeing her visually but being able to see and feel her heart,” Wonder said.

There were also choir performances, including a moving rendition of “Amazing Grace”, which came in between a video montage of Flack’s life and scripture readings.

Her Legacy

“The reason we’re here is because she made a difference,” Sharpton said.

“We should all ask ourselves when it comes our time, will they pack a church for you? If Roberta were here tonight, she would tell you don’t just praise me, emulate me.”

Yo ucan watch the memorial on Youtube.